Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center (KACC) and Fort Meade medical-related facilities became a tobacco-free medical campus on Mar. 1, 2016. This change adds KACC to an ever growing list of tobacco-free medical campuses throughout the Army, Department of Defense, and the nation.
Colonel Laura R. Trinkle, commander of the Fort Meade Medical Department Activity in an email to staff personnel said the move is "In support of the Surgeon General's initiative to become a Tobacco Free Living (TFL) workforce. The use of all forms of tobacco products during the duty day is prohibited including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, personal vaporizers and electronic nicotine delivery systems."
The Fort Meade medical campus includes Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center; Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory; Veterans Administration Community-Based Outpatient Clinic; Epes Dental Clinic and Headquarters Dental Activity; Veterinary Treatment Facility; and the Army Wellness Center. Parking lots at the facilities are also considered part of the medical campus and tobacco use is not permitted in private vehicles on medical campus property.
Regarding the importance of the change, Trinkle said "Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the US and there is no safe-level of secondhand smoke exposure. Reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke throughout our medical campus clearly promotes health and an improved quality of life. This change demonstrates our active engagement and commitment to providing a tobacco-free environment for our patients, staff and guests that will help them to live a longer and healthier life."
To help staff comply with this policy, KACC has expanded its tobacco cessation support and services to its beneficiaries and their civilian staff members.
Although pharmacological aids and other medical treatment is only available to eligible beneficiaries, civilians may inquire with their Federal Health Benefits Program plan for information on tobacco cessation, to include services that are available without co-pays, or deductibles.
Eligible beneficiaries will access products and services through KACC Tobacco Cessation Program and their primary care manager. Online resources are also available at the following websites: www.ucanquit2.org and http://smokefree.gov/.
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